Liverpool – Newcastle: Exquisite Ekitike Downs The Magpies (4-1)

Newcastle started this game with high pressing and high tempo, and were able to take the lead through transition play. However, Liverpool were eventually able to wrestle control with the help of an excellent double from Hugo Ekitike. In the second half, Liverpool continued to threaten with their own transition play while Newcastle struggled to make their organized possession phases count.

Tactical analysis and match report by Josh Manley.

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Liverpool came into this game on a run of five Premier League games without a win. In Europe their form had been better, with dominant wins over Marseille and Qarabag helping them secure third place in the Champions League group phase.

Newcastle meanwhile managed to take a point away at PSG in midweek, as well as qualifying for the Champions League Round of 16. They find themselves around mid-table domestically though, and will surely want to push on in the second half of the season.

Arne Slot’s side lined up in a 4-2-3-1 shape with Dominik Szoboszlai deployed in the back four alongside Ibrahima Konaté, Virgil van Dijk, and Milos Kerkez. Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister played in central midfield, with Florian Wirtz at number ten. Mohamed Salah and Cody Gakpo then flanked striker Hugo Ekitike.

It was the usual 4-3-3 system for Newcastle, with Eddie Howe selecting a back four of Kieran Trippier, Malick Thiaw, Dan Burn, and Lewis Hall. With the captain Bruno Guimarães unavailable, Joe Willock and Jacob Ramsey joined Sandro Tonali in the midfield trio, while the frontline comprised Anthony Elanga, Anthony Gordon, and Harvey Barnes.

Newcastle opt for speed

The game started with a relatively fast pace, partly driven by Newcastle’s willingness to press high against Liverpool’s buildup. This prevented the home side from being able to settle into the game easily to begin with.

When Newcastle pressed high, they went man for man against Liverpool’s buildup by having Barnes indent from the left to press towards Konaté while Hall jumped from left back towards Szoboszlai. Burn would then slide across to mark Salah. On the other side, Elanga would track Kerkez, meaning he was often positioned deeper in the defensive phase when Kerkez moved forward.

Newcastle’s high press.

Newcastle’s attacks were also fast-paced. Howe seemingly subscribes to the thesis that Liverpool are particularly vulnerable to long balls, as Newcastle consistently tried to send long passes over the Liverpool fullbacks and put pressure on the second balls.

Newcastle also had the ability to counter quickly with their pacy forwards and midfield runners. This was actually the source of the goal that put them ahead in the first half, as they broke a lackluster Liverpool counterpress which allowed Willock to carry the ball into the final third and find Gordon, who found the bottom corner with a low shot across the goalkeeper.

Liverpool take over

The home side did eventually establish some control in the game though. They were eventually able to start stabilizing possession between the center-backs and double pivot, allowing them to force Newcastle back into a mid or low block.

Howe’s side defended in a flat 4-5-1 in these phases, which was sometimes asymmetric due to Elanga tracking of Kerkez’ forward runs. On the other side, Barnes’ positioning was more consistent and narrow as Szoboszlai usually stayed deeper around the right halfspace to aid Liverpool’s ball circulation.

The double pivot of Gravenberch and Mac Allister would often stagger themselves when Liverpool had the ball, so that one of them would remain as the pivot, while the other had the freedom to move slightly higher – in line with Newcastle’s midfield or beyond. Gravenberch was able to find himself in some good pockets in the right halfspace in this manner, with Mac Allister helping create angles to feed him between the lines.

Liverpool in settled possession.

Wirtz’ role was to drift between lines, while Ekitike also had freedom as he would sometimes roam towards the left, able to rotate with Gakpo. Salah then held the width on the right for Liverpool’s attack.

It was a quickfire double from Ekitike that put Liverpool 2-1 up at the end of the first half. Both were skillful finishes where Ekitike showed his ability to use all parts of the foot to put the ball away. The first a one-touch finish from a low Wirtz cross, and the second after dribbling at the Newcastle defense in transition.

No reply from Newcastle

Now chasing the game, Newcastle had a greater share of possession in the second half, particularly towards the end of the game. However, they created less than in the first half as Liverpool’s deeper defending gave them less space to exploit, and Newcastle themselves became increasingly stretched, which allowed Liverpool opportunities in transition. Slot’s side went 3-1 up after the hour mark thanks to a well-placed first-time finish from Wirtz, making Newcastle’s task even steeper.

Without the ball, the home side defended in a relatively man-oriented fashion. Due to the matchup of the formations, this also came quite naturally. Newcastle struggled to find solutions against this man-oriented defending, and were still reliant on trying to generate dynamics from long-ball situations against a Liverpool defense that now had less space in behind it.

Newcastle struggled in their organized buildup phase.

Howe made a switch in the final twenty minutes, bringing Jacob Murphy, Nick Woltemade, and Yoane Wissa on for Elanga, Willock, and Barnes. This also meant a change of shape, as they went to a 4-4-2 formation with Woltemade playing in behind Wissa up front.

Woltemade’s presence between lines was promising, but Newcastle seemed to lack fluency in this altered shape and still struggled to really create anything. They continued to look vulnerable in transition, and Liverpool were also able to add a fourth goal late on from a set-piece as Konaté poked the ball over the line to make it 4-1 at the final whistle.

Takeaways

Liverpool needed some time to settle into the game against Newcastle’s pressing and transitions, but in the end, this was a deserved win. The summer’s signings Wirtz and Ekitike seemed to be establishing some chemistry in attack, and Liverpool conceded few chances once they were ahead.

Newcastle started at a good tempo but were unable to rekindle it once they went behind. They continue to face problems when asked to break opponents down with organized possession rather than being able to use transition moments to their advantage.

Match plots to be added shortly.